Serrano earns first Reader’s Choice Wrestler of Week honors | Team of Week
BY BRANT PARSONS — Springstead’s Jasmine Serrano has always been good at putting in the effort, it was her mind that kept getting in the way.
Entering this season, the senior wanted to focus on making sure her mental work was on the same level with the physical.
So far, she’s done a good job of it.
Serrano won the Girls Flagler Rotary and Princess Punchout in the first week of the season and was voted by you as Kabra Wrestling’s “Reader’s Choice Wrestler of the Week”.
“I’ve always been committed to putting in the effort, but in the past, I often let my own thoughts become my biggest obstacle, preventing me from performing at my best,” Serrano said. “This season, I’ve focused on evolving not just physically, but mentally, learning to wrestle with freedom and excitement for the battles ahead.”
At Flagler Palm Coast, Serrano knocked off two Top 10 wrestlers by technical fall on her way to the top of the podium.
Later in the week, she downed a returning state champion by a major decision to win her second tournament title at Wiregrass Ranch.
“The key to my success this week was maintaining a clear mindset and fully embracing the joy of doing what I love,” Serrano said. “Seeing my hard work finally come together felt incredible.”
The journey for last year’s third place finisher has just begun and she’ll get to test her new focus this weekend at the Let Freedom Ring IBT at Orlando Freedom.
“It’s been about shifting my mindset from overthinking to fully engaging in the moment, and that’s made all the difference,” Serrano said.
Girls Week 1: Wrestlers of the Week Team
Team of the Week: Flagler Palm Coast: The Bulldogs showed their team’s potential, winning six individual titles and taking home top team honors at the Girls Flagler Rotary.
100: Emerson Webber (Hernando): After having last season cut short by injury, the freshman punctuated her return to the high school mat with a win in a loaded weight class at the Rotary.
105: Camdyn Elliott (Gulf Breeze): Won the latest battle between her and a defending state champion to win first place at Flagler Palm Coast.
110: Bristol McManmon (North Port): Is no longer under-the-radar after an impressive 4-0 day at the Princess Punchout.
115: Grace Lashinsky (DeLand): Last year’s state runner-up went 4-0 at Flagler Palm Coast, winning all of her matches by fall.
120: Catalina Kenney (Viera): The junior Hawks wrestlers won four matches by pin en route to her title at Flagler.
125: Jasmine Serrano (Springstead): Won titles at both tournaments this past week and beat a returning state champion in the final of the Punchout.
130: Gracie Austin (Charlotte): The unranked sophomore took home first place at the Princess Punchout.
135: Ana Vilar (Flagler Palm Coast): Started her senior-season campaign strong with a dominant performance in the Rotary.
140: Kailani Barrientos (Oakleaf): Only one of her four wins by pin even made it past the first period.
145: Sariana Jones (Auburndale): Was dominant in her journey to a title at Wiregrass Ranch.
155: Kha`Lyah Delva (Ft Pierce Central): Spent a total of 3:12 on the mat in her three wins at the Punchout.
170: Megan Preston (Wiregrass Ranch): Last year’s state finalist didn’t miss a beat at the season start, going 3-0 at the Ranch.
190: Cerenity Whiting (Countryside): The returning state champion at 235 pounds moved down a weight and breezed to a title.
235: Rotchiva Clermont (Freedom): Pinned the defending two-time state champion at 190 pounds in the final at Flagler Palm Coast.
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
